Namewise

Faolán vs Kenneth

Faolán and Kennethcompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.

Head to head

Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Faolán was ranked #174 and Kenneth #785 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Faolán, Kenneth
FieldFaolánKenneth
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningNot yet recordedAn Anglicized form of both Coinneach and Cináed, of Scottish Gaelic origin. Borne by the Scottish king Kenneth mac Alpin, who united the Scots and Picts in the 9th century.
OriginNot yet recordedScottish Gaelic
PronunciationNot yet recorded/ˈkɛn.əθ/
Syllables12
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageIEAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #170 (2025)Scotland · Boys #535 (2024)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)40/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Kenneth has a recorded origin (Scottish Gaelic); Faolán does not have one recorded yet.
  • Faolán has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Kenneth.
  • A meaning is recorded for Kenneth; Faolán doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in IE.

How each name got here

Faolán

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded2018

    First recorded at #471 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 2018 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  2. Highest recorded2018–2025

    Highest recorded position: #170 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025 (recorded 2018–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #170 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

Kenneth

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #303 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1945–2021

    Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in Norway, in 1979 (recorded 1945–2021).

    Norway · Boys

  3. Most recent2024

    Most recently recorded at #968 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.

    England and Wales · Boys